Champions League stars win 29 medals at EHF EURO

One of the most appealing ties on that opening day is Metz Handball against Rostov-Don, a kind of rematch of Sunday's EHF EURO Final between France and Russia: eight players from new European champions France will be on court for Metz, facing the same number of Russia players for Rostov.

And even bronze medallists Netherlands and fourth-ranked Romania will be involved in this match for Rostov, through Dutch left back Lois Abbingh and Romania coach Ambros Martin, who is also at the helm of the Russian club.

Apart from those 17 players from only two clubs, 12 more Champions League stars won medals at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris on Sunday: four French players (three from Brest, one from Györ), and eight Dutch players (four from already eliminated Bietigheim, two from Kobenhavn, and one each from Györ and Odense).